Preboarding machine



P" 9, 1947. A. o. HURXTHAL PREBOARDING MACHINE Filed May 6, 1946Patented Apr. 29, 1947 Proctor & Schwartz, Inc.,

corporation of Pennsyl Application May 6, 1946, Serial No. 687,850

This invention relates towhat is known in the hosiery industry as apreboarding machine. These machines are commonly used in the processingof nylon stocking of both the flat knit full fashioned type and thecircular knit seamless type.

Nylon stockings, after structural completion, and usually before dyeingand finishing, are initially placed on individual forms to receive asetting treatment wherein the stockings are caused to conform to andpermanently acquire I the shape and ize of these initial forms. Afterthe setting treatment, the stockings are stripped from the initial formsto be run through the usual hosiery finishing process which includes theplacing of the stockings on other individual forms for final drying.

The present invention relates to a type of preboarding machine wherein aplurality of the initial forms are respectively arranged, for l tivepivotal movement, in vertical planes radiating from a common verticalaxis, whereby the initial forms with stockings thereon may be closelynested, to be enclosed by a vertical movable dome arranged with its axiscoinciding with the common axis from which the vertical planes ofoperation of the forms radiate.

The vertically operable dome is adapted to be lowered around the nestedforms until the open base surface of the dome makes contact with ahorizontal surface on the base of the machine, above which the formsproject. A fluid pressure seal is formed between the base surface of thedome and the base surface of the machine, after which the stockings onthe forms are subjected to the setting process which includes theentrance into the dome of steam under a predetermined pressure.

After the stockings have been exposed to the setting treatment for a pmined length of time, the pressure fluid is evacuated from the dome andthe dome is raised to an extent where the open base surface of the domeassumes a plane above the upper ends of the nested forms.

The nested forms are then caused to swing outwardly, about pivot pointslocated adjacent the lower ends of the forms or boards. in theirrespective radial planes, to spread the forms apart laterally withrespect to each other to facilitate stripping of the treated stockingsfrom Philadelphia, 2a., a

2 the individual forms and the placing of a new group of stockingsthereon.

The radially outward swinging of the forms is effected by a commonactuator in the form of an operating ring disposed concentrically withrespect to the axis from which the stocking boards or forms radiate. Thespreading of the stock- I ing forms is effected by an upward axialmovement of said ring.

After the individual forms have been swung outwardly, the commonoperating ring descends gravitationally to a maximum low horizontalplane, which the-common actuator normally assumes while the widelyspread position above noted.

The machine operator then strips the treated stockings from the radiallyspread forms and, during or after the placing of a new group ofstockings on the forms, the forms are swung inwardly into their formerlyoccupied closed nested position. This inward swinging of the forms intheir radial planes is effected manually, preferably as the machineoperator completes the redressing of the forms one after another.

The forms, being supported solely by their pivots at the lower ends ofthe forms, are subject to lateral flexing in the upper portions thereofas the forms are swung inwardly into their nesting position. As a resultof the close relationship of the heel portions of the forms, when theforms are in their nested position, it frequently happens that thestockings on some of the forms will engage and rub against the stockingson adjacently disposed forms, as the forms are being moved into theirnested position.

Such contact and rubbing of the forms against each other with thestockings thereon frequently damages the stockings to an extent whichrequires the stockings being sold as seconds. I

The object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatusfor controlling the movement of the stocking forms as they move intotheir final nested position, to avoid damaging of the stockings thereonby the aforesaid accidental contacting of adjacent forms as they areswung into their final nesting position.

This object is attained by moving the common actuator ring from itsmaximum high position, by attainment of which the stocking forms wereswung outwardly in their radial'planes for stripstocking forms are intheir 3 ping and reclothing, to a position intermediate said maximumhigh position and the maximum low position of said ring. as attainedwhen the stocking forms are in their iinal nested position.

With the operating ring in the'aforesaid intermediate position, theoperator, after reclothing the individual forms, swings the formsinwardly, manually, until the base edges or butts of the forms engagethe operating ring in its intermediate position.

with the common actuator ring in this intermediate position, the heelsof the forms are separated laterally a suilicient distance to preventinterengagement between adjacent forms as re-' sulting from lateralflexing or vibration of the 5 upper parts of the forms during the inwardswinging of the forms.

By the time the last of the complement of hosiery-laden forms has beenswung inwardly,

into engagement with the common operating ring mits intermediateposition, the entire complement of forms has become completelyquiescent. The common operating ring is then lowered to its maximum lowposition, causing all the forms to simultaneously move uniformly intheir individual radial planes until the maximum low position of theoperating ring is attained. The upp ends of the radial forms thus movestrictly in their own planes without lateral flexing or vibrapipe II.

The pipe II is connected to a control reservoir I2 and this reservoir,in turn, is connected by a pipe' II to the discharge side I4 of a rotaryfluid pump I9. thepump II is connected by a pipe I! to a storage tankI9.

The operating fluid employed in the system is preferably a low viscosityliquid, such as light oil or water.

The control reservoir I2 and the storage tank I8 are connected by a pipeI9 in which is installed a magnetically operated control valve 24. Themagnetic valve 20 is normally open and is adapted to belclosedtemporarily at predetermined times' by a solenoid 2I. The solenoid 2I iselectrically connected in series with a mechanically operated switch 22,and a manually operable switch 23.

The switch 22 is normally open andis adapted to be temporarily closed,at predetermined times, by a cam 24 which is connected to and is adaptedto travel up and down with the form actuator ring 4. The cam 24 isadapted to engage a roller 25 on the outer end of a spring lever 26 towhich tion and thus the stockings on the forms are 30 prevented frommaking contact with the stockings on adjacent forms.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic view, partly in section,

illustrating a pair of diametrically opposite forms in their radiallyspread position for stripping and reclothing;

Fig. 2 is a similar diagrammatic view showing the diametrically oppositeforms in an intermediate position;

Fig. 3 is a similar diagrammatic view showing the diametrically oppositeforms in their final closely nested position;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the foot portions of theforms in their intermediate positions illustrated in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a similar diagrammatic plan view illustrating the footportions of the forms in their final closely nested positions.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the lower base or leg portions of theforms I, I are each proe vided with a camming plate 2 which has a lowerinner edge surface or corner 3 adapted to be engaged by the verticallymovable common actuator or operating ring 4. The plates 2, 2

are connected by links 5a, 5b to stationary pivot blocks 6, 6 mounted onthe base of the preboarding machine.

It will be noted that the links 5b are relatively longer than the links5a, and that the pivots la, ,1 for the links 5a, 5b are spaced apart a 6greater distance on the planes 2, 2 of the forms I, l than the pivots'Ib, lb for the links 5a, 5b on the stationary pivot blocks 6, 6;whereby the lower or base ends of the forms I, I are bodily movedradially outward while the upper foot 6 portions Ia, Ia of the formsswing outwardly on arcs complementary to the arcs followed by the widerspaced pivots Ia, Ia of the different length links 5a, to about theircloserspaced pivots 'Ib, Ib on the pivot blocks 6.

, The operating ring 4 is raised by a series of relatively spacedpistons Q, 8 respectively operating in cylinders 9, 9, the lower ends ofwhich are connected by pipes III, I 0 to a common feed 75 the movableelement 2'! of the switch 22 is connected.

When the forms I, I are in their fully nested position as shown in Fig.3, the dome 30 is lowered over the nested forms and the lower open end3| of the dome is in engagement with a horizontal surface 92 on the baseof the machine,

with a suitable gasket (not shown) therebetween. The means for raisingand lowering the dome 30, the means for forming the pressure-tight sealbetween the lower end SI of the dome 39 and the flat horizontal surface32 of the machine, and the means for admitting the treating fluid to andexhausting it from the interior of the dome 30 have not been shown inthe present instance, as these structures form no part of the 'presentinvention, but are complementary adjuncts thereto.

In operation, starting from the stripping and clothing position of theform I, I as shownin Fig.

1, with the common actuator or operating ring 4 in its maximum highposition after throwing the forms I, I radially outward to saidstripping and clothing position, the upward movement of the ring 4 isarrested by stopping the pump I5. During the upward movement of the ring4 by the operating fluid delivered by the pump I5 to the controlreservoir I2 and through the pipes II and III, III to the lower ends ofthe cylinders 9, 9; the control valve 29 and the switches 22 and 23 havebeen closed. As soon as the cam 24 clears the roller 25 of the switch 22said switch is automatically opened, which interrupts the flow ofcurrent to the solenoid 2| whereupon the valve 20 returns to its normalopen position and permits the ring 4 to descend under its own weight.

As the ring 4 descends, the cam 24 reengages the roller 25 and closesthe switch 22, whereupon the solenoid 2| is again energized and effectsclosing of the control valve 20. This interrupts the descent of the ring4 and brings said ring to rest in its intermediate position.

During this time, the machine operator has The suction'side ll of Afterthe last of the boards or forms I, i has been reclothed and moved iromthe primary position shown in Fig. 1 to the intermediate position 8through the pipes Ill and l I, thecontrol reservoir I I2 and the pipe I!into the fluid storage tank 18.

The ring 4 is thereby permitted to descend under 10,

its own weight plus the weight of the boards or forms I, i restingthereon.

As the ring 4 descends from its intermediate position shown in Fig. 2 toits maximum low position shown in Fig. 3, the foot portions la, In ofthe forms I move radially inward from their intermediate positions shownin Fig. 4 to their fully nested positions shown in Fig. 5 with the heelsthe foot portions la, la in close laterally spaced relation to eachother, without making contact and without any relative rubbing actionoccurring therebetween.

When the boards attain their fully nested relationship shown in Figs. 3and 5, the dome 30 is lowered around the nested forms and the sealbetween the lower end 3| of the dome and the horizontal surface 32 ofthe machine base is efiected. The treating fluid is then caused to flowto the interior of the dome 30 for treatment of the stockings therein.After a predetermined period of time has elapsed, the treating fluid isexhausted from the interior of the dome 30 and said dome is raised totheheight suflicient to clear the toe portions of the forms encasedthereby,

When the dome 30 reaches its high position, the pump I is automaticallystarted and the operating fluid is pumped from the tank I8 into thelower ends of the cylinders 9, causing the pistons 8 to be raisedtherein and effecting a corresponding upward movement of the operatingring 4.

The upward movement of the ring 4 moves the, forms I, l radiallyoutward, through the intermediate position shown in Fig. 2 to themaximum high position of the ring 4 which causes the forms I, l to moveradially outward to the stripping and clothing position shown in Fig. 1.coincidental therewith, the pump i5 is automatically stopped, bringingto an end one complete cycle of operation of the apparatus.

I claim:

1. In a stocking treating machine including a plurality of verticalstocking forms pivotally mounted at their lower ends for movement froman inner close laterally spaced relation to an outer wide laterallyspaced relation in plane radiating from a common vertical axis, a commonactuator movable from a maximum low elevation to a maximum highelevation along said axis for simultaneously effecting radial outwardmovement of said forms into said wide laterally spaced relation, saidactuator being adapted to descend from said high elevation to said lowelevation free of said forms gravitationally; the combination therewithof means for controlling the descent of said actuator to stop at anelevation intermediate said high and low elevations thereof forengagement by said forms when manually moved radially inward from saidouter widely spaced. relation to assemble said forms in an intermediatespaced relation determined by said intermediate elevation of saidactuator, and means for controlling further descent of said actuator tosimultaneously move said assembled forms radially inward from saidintermediate spaced relation to saidinner closely spaced relation 2. Ina stocking tr a i machine including a plurality of vertical stockingforms pivotally mounted at their lower ends for movementi'rom an innerclose laterally spaced relation to an outer wide laterally spacedrelation in planes radiating iro a common vertical axis, a commonactuator movable from a maximum low elevation to a maximum highelevation along said axis for simultaneously eflecting radial outwardmovement of said iorms into said wide laterally spaced relation, fluidoperated .means for raising said actuator from said low to said highelevation, said actuator being adapted to descend from said "highelevation to said low elevation free of said forms gravitationally; thecombination therewith of a valve for controlling discharge of fluid fromsaid actuator raising means and the descent of said actuator, meansincluding an element movable concurrently with said actuator foroperating said'valve to stop said actuator at an elevation intermediatesaid high and low elevation thereof for engagement bysaid forms wh nmanually moved inwardly from said outer relation to assemble said formsin an intermediate relation determined by said intermediate elevation ofsaid actuator, and means for controlling the further descent of saidactuator to simultaneously move said assembled forms inwardly from saidintermediate spaced relation to-said inner closely spaced relation.

3. In a stocking treating machine including a plurality of verticalstocking iorms pivotally mounted at their lower ends for movement froman inner close laterally spaced relation to an outer wide laterallyspaced relation in planes radiating from a common vertical axis, acommon actuator movable from a maximum low elevation to a maximum highelevation along said axis for simultaneously effecting radial outwardmovement of said forms into said wide laterally spaced relation, fluidoperated means for raising said actuator from said low to said highelevation, said actuator being adapted to descend'from said highelevation to said low elevation free of said Iorms gravitationally; thecombination therewith of a valve for controlling discharge of fluid fromsaid actuator raising means and the descent of said actuator, meansincluding an element movable concurrently with said actuator foroperating said valve to stop said actuator at an elevation intermediatesaid high and low elevation thereof for engagement by said forms whenmanually moved inwardly from said outer relation to assemble said formsin an intermediate relation determined by said intermediate elevation ofsaid actuator, and means for actuating said valve independently of saidconcurrently movable element to control further descent of said actuatorinto said maximum low elevation to move said forms simultaneously fromsaid intermediate spaced relation thereof to said inner closely spacedrelation thereof.

4. In a stocking treating machine including a plurality of verticalstocking forms pivotally mounted at their lower ends for movement froman inner close laterally spaced relation to an outer wide laterallyspaced relation in planes radiating from a common vertical axis, acommon actuator movable from a maximum low elevation to a maximum highelevation along said axis for e!- fecting radial outward movement ofsaid Iorms simultaneously, said actuator being adapted to descend fromsaid high elevation to said low elevation gravitationally; thecombination therewith of an electric circuit including a magnetic.valve, a switch, and a cam element movable conspaced relation toanintermediate spaced relation determined by said intermediate elevationof said actuator, and a manually operable switch in said circuit ioropening said valve to control 10' iurther descent of said actuator tomove said forms radially inward from said intermediate 8 spaced relationto said inner closely relation simultaneously,

armmos o. nunx'rnan. nnmaaxcns crrnn The following references are oirecord in the file of this patent:

Number 2,207,972

Name Date Cissell July 16, mo

